It was lovely to get away in the caravan for a mini holiday in September 2020. After everything that has been going on what with lockdown, it was nice to be in the countryside.
Being away in the caravan means we are self sufficient and I can make sure everything is clean and up to my 'standard' (bleach mostly everything within an inch of its life!).
We stayed at Brakes Coppice Park Campsite in Battle http://brakes.bluebellcoppice.com and I could not fault the cleanliness of their amenities e.g. toilets, showers etc. They also left out cleaning supplies so you could also give everything a clean before and after you used their facilities. We are lucky that our little caravan has a toilet with a shower and so everything we need can be used in the caravan.
Our caravan is a 2009 Freedom Jetstream https://www.freedomcaravans.com and we love it! It is lightweight and can be towed by some smaller vehicles. (Always make sure you check how much your vehicle can legally tow!)
Breaks Coppice Park Campsite also offer a range of different pitches, bell tents and lodges to stay in. Just to make you aware, if you are towing a caravan they do have a bit of a steep drive which is also a bit bumpy to get in and out of the site, but it is still an amazing place to visit!! They are happy to help with any queries you may have. Thank you so much for the lovely stay!
Day 1
During our first day we decided to visit Battle Abbey in Hastings.
Battle is a lovely town, it has so much to offer e.g. cafes, shops, churches, history and so much more. People have decorated the bollards in the centre with knitted sleeves and each one has their own beautiful design.
Whilst in Battle we went to visit Battle Abbey. You can book on the English Heritage website https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/1066-battle-of-hastings-abbey-and-battlefield/prices-and-opening-times/ for a slot to enter the Abbey and to see the Battlefield. If you are an English Heritage member you can enter for free.
The Battle of Hastings was fought on 14th October 1066. Battle Abbey was founded by William the Conquerer on the spot where Harold passed away. The Abbey was used as a Benedictine Monastery for over 400 years but was transformed into a grand country house.
Once inside the gates of the Abbey we were greeted and given a map. We could also scan a QR code on our mobile phone which enabled us to listen to a audio guide. The map guides you around the edge of the battlefield towards the place where Harold lost his life.
There are also placards which give you a monologue of the battle between Harold and William.
Now the battlefield is peaceful and serene. You can imagine what happened on this field many years ago. They have placed wooden carvings around the edge of the site but you will have to visit to see these, we will not spoil the surprise for you, as to how amazing they look!
Once you have walked around the edge of the battlefield, you then can see the ruins of the monastery. Again there are placards placed around telling you about the buildings which used to stand there.
You can also see the exact spot where Harold lost his life. It is now covered by a slab of stone and has an inscription on it.
Once back at the Abbey there is a one way system in place so you can walk around inside and also keep socially distanced from other visitors. The views at the top of the Abbey are exquisite and you can see for miles around! I am a little afraid of heights, so at this point my legs did start to wobble a bit but I made it down again without splaying myself onto the floor in a star fish and gripping onto the ground!
After our visit to the Abbey and a spot of shopping in the gift shop we then had a walk around the town of Battle. We visited St Mary the Virgin Church with its beautifully kept grounds. St Mary's is a short walk from the main centre of the town.
Day 2
On the second day of our visit we decided to head into Hastings, neither of us had been here before.
Once we were able to find a place to park in Priory Meadow https://www.priorymeadow.com/centre-information/parking/ we then headed out on foot to find Hastings Castle. We must warn you that there is a steep hill which leads up to the castle and there are not many sign posts to guide the way. We finally found the entrance to the castle by chance, where they have a range of placards telling you the history of the castle.
Please note that they only accept cash at the castle! We were caught out by this and so unfortunately we did not walk around the ruins of the castle.
However the views from the top of the hill are astonishing!
Hastings has lots of small quirky shops in the back streets, along with a few places to eat. There is a set of caves you can also visit but we did not go to see these whilst we were there. The sea font has a mixture of old architecture along with more modern designs and there are rides and amusements for all of the family.
Make sure you have a ride on the miniature railway!!
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and for all your support. Have you ever visited Battle and Hastings before? We would love to hear about your adventures here and see your photos too!
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Lots of love,
Amy xx
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